Suspected migrant smuggler killed

Havana  The Cuban coast guard shot at three suspected migrant smugglers from the United States who refused orders to halt their boat as it neared the island, killing one, official media reported Thursday.

The Communist Party daily Granma said the confrontation occurred Wednesday near Cuba's southern coast in the western province of Pinar del Rio.

The coast guard official in charge ordered officers to open fire after the three-man crew aboard the 40-foot boat failed to stop and instead launched "violent sudden attacks" on the coast guard vessel, damaging the craft, the report said.

Two men aboard the U.S.-based boat were wounded by gunfire and taken to a hospital, where one died, the report said.

Cuban authorities said the identity of the dead man was not immediately known because he did not have any documents and the other two men were not cooperating.